Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/68

 REED

REEDER

to the bar early in 1865. He received appoint- ment as acting assistant paymaster in the U.S. navy, April 19, 1804, and served in the Mississippi squadron on various vessels up to Nov. 4, 18(55, when he was honorably discliarged. He estab- lished himself in the practice of law in Portland; was a Republican representative in the state legislature, 18G8-6i); state senator in 1870; at- torney-general of the state, 1870-7'-i, and city solicitor of Portland. 1874-77. He was a Repub- lican representative from Maine in the 45tli-55th congresses. 1877-99, serving as speaker of the house during the 51st, 54th and 55th congresses. He was the minority leader in the 52d and 53d congresses; chairman of the committee on ways and means, and a vigorous opponent to the free coinage of silver. As chairman of the judiciary committee in the47tli congress he introduced and secured the passage of the bill distributing the balance of the Geneva award. As speaker of the iiouse in the 51st congress, he introduced a measure, afterward known as the " Reed Rules." for completing a quorum by ordering recorded as present on the roll-call the names of the opposi- tion present who refused to respond to the call. In this course he reversed the practice of the house and brought upon liimself severe criticism, including the characterization of "Czar." The supreme court sustained his position, and the house adopted the rule, Feb. 14, 1890. When by change in the house he became merely the leader of the minority, he as skilfully fought for mi- nority rights as he had before for the majority rule, and on financial and tariff questions his streugtli was acknowledged by the opposition and applauded by his own party. His course secured his re-election as speaker of the 54th and 55th congresses, but he did not agree with the admin- istration of President McKinley on the questions growing out of the war with Spain, and ratlier tlian embarrass his party by joining those opposed to the expansion polic}', he resigned in August, 1899, and became a member of a prominent law firm in New York city. He received the liouor- ary degree of LL.D. from Colby university in 1885, and from Bowdoin college in 1890. He is the author of: Reed's Rides (1894), and edited " Modern Ehjquence" (10 vols. lOOH, being assisted in this work by Justin McCarthy and Rossiter Johnson. His last political utteranrf was entitled " Wiiat Sliall We Do with the Tariff? ", published in the North American Revieiv, December, 1902. He died while on a visit to Wasliington, D.C., Dpc. 7. 1902.

REED, William Bradford, historian and dip- lomatist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 30, 1806; son of Joseph and Maria Ellis (Watmougli) Reed; grandson of Joseph and Estlier (De Berdt) Reed, and great-grandson of Andrew and Theo-

dosia (Bowers) Reed. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1822, A.M., 1825; accompanied Joel R. Poinsett (q.v.) to Mex- ico, serving as his private secretary. 1825-27, and establislied himself in the practice of law in Philadelphia. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1834-35; attorney-general of Pennsylvania in 1838; state senator in 1841; vice-i)rovost of the law academy, Philadelpliia, 1840-41, and professor of American liistory at the University of Pennsylvania, 1850-56. He was U.S. ministQ^- to China, 1857-58, and negotiated the treat}' of 18G0, securing to the United States all the advantages acquired by the allies from the Chinese. He settled in New York city, and engaged in journalistic and literary work. He was elected a naember of the American Philosophical society in 1856. and of the Historical Society of Penn- .sylvania. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Harvard in 1860. He was twice married: first, to Loui.sa Whelan of Balti- nioi'e, Md.; and, secondly, to Marj' Love, daugliter of Robert Ralston of Philadelpliia. He contri- buted to the press of New York city; was American correspondent of the London Times; edited the works of his brother. Henry Hope Reed, and is the author of: Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed (2 vols.. 1847); Life of Esther De Berdt, afterwards Esther Reed (1853); President Reed of Pennsylvania: a Reply to George Bancroft and Otliers: A Rejoinder to Mr. Bancroft' s Historical Essay, besides pamphlets on historical subjects. He died in New York city. Feb. 18. 1876.

REED, William Shields, educator, was born in West Nottingham. Pa.. April' 21. 1778; son of Adam and Martlia (Sliields) Reid. who emigrated from the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1802, A.M., 1805; taught in the Georgetown, D.C., academy, 1802-04; was professor in Hamp- den-Sidney college, Va., 1804-06, and president of the college, as successor to Dr. Archibald Alexander, 1806-08. Having, while engaged in teaching, taken a course in theology under Drs. Balch and Hoge. he was licensed to preacii by the presbytery of Winchester in 1806, and removed to Lynchburg. Va., 1808. where he opened a scliool for young ladies, which he conducted until 1848. He organized a Presbyterian churcli in Lynchburg, of which he was pastor, 1822-53. He received the honorary degree D.D. from the Col- lege of New Jersey in 1834. He died in Lynch- burg, Va., June 23. 1853.

REEDER, Andrew Horatio, governor of Kan- sas, was born at Easton, Pa.. July 12, 1807; .son of Ab.salom and Christina (Smith) Reeder; grand- son of John and Hannah (Marchand) Reeder and of Leonard and Regina (Hungesser) Smith, and a descendant of Jolin Reeder of Norwich. Eng.